Edward g



(No Model.) l

E. G. SMITH.

PROPELLING APPARATUS.

Patented June Z, 1891.`

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDIVARD G. SMITH, OFNEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR OEONF-HALF TO HENRY JAEGER, OF SAME PLACE.

PROPELLING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 453,217, dated June 2, 1891.

Application filed August 13, 1890. Serial No` 361,878. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

@Be it known that I, EDWARD G. SMITH, of the city and county of New York, in the State of New York, have inventeda new and useful Improvement in Propelling Apparatus, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to an improvement in propelling apparatus for boats, and more particularly for life-saving boats; but the apparatus maybe used'also to advantage in connection with row-boats and small pleasureboats. Y

Apractical embodiment of my invention is represented in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure lrepresents a boat in vertical longitudinal section, showing the propelling apparatus in position therein; and Fig. 2 is atop plan View.

Arepresents the side of the boat; a, its bottom; a', its stem, and a2 its stern. In the form. in which I have here represented my invention I have provided a seat B for the occupant of the boat near the stern, and have represented the propelling device as a screw? propeller O, fixed upon a shaft c, provided upon its inner end with a beveled-faced spurwheel D. An upright shaft E is provided at its lower end with a beveled-faced spurwheel e, which intermeshes with the spurwheelD on the shaft c, and the upper end of the shaft E is provided with a windwheel F.

The motive power for actuating the screwpropeller is intended to be compressed air, and to provide this power and direct it upon the wheel F, I adopt the following construction and arrangement of parts:

A pair of cylinders G are located a short distance in front of the position which the operator of the boat occupies, one upon each side of the boat, and their ends are connected with a compressed-air reservoir I-I, preferably located near the bow of the boat by pipes h. The cylinders G are each provided with aircompressing pistons of any well-known or approved construction, said pistons bein g connected with operating-levers Iby connectingrods z'. rIhe operating-levers I are pivoted at their lower ends to suitable stationary pivots K, and at the points where they are connected with the connecting-rods t' there is provided a cross-bar 7o, the ends of which are connected with suitable studs or bolts Lupon the opposite sides of the cylinders by retractingsprings M. The pistons are drawn out by pulling backward on the upper end of the operating-levers I against the tension of the springs M, and the tension of said springs is intended to be suflicient to force the pistons forward and drive the air through the tubes h into the reservoir II. It is understood that the necessary check-.valves of common or approved construction are to be supplied to prevent the return of the compressed air from the reservoir H through the pipes h when the piston is drawn outwardly, and also to admit a supply of air in front of the piston ready for another stroke.

The wind-wheel F is provided about its periphery with a series of oblique wings f, against which the compressed air is directed through' small openings fm, arranged in the proper position in the top of an air-receiving chamber in communication with the reservoir H. I find it highly advantageous to adopt the following construction for housing the shafts and transmitting air from the reservoir H to the receiving-chamber N. The shaft E, to which the Wheel E is secured, is surrounded by a tube O, which forms an air-tight connection with the top of the receiving-chamber N and also with the bottom of a larger tube 0, the latter in communication at the top with the receiving-chamber N and in communication at its side through a tube o with the reservoir H. By this arrangement `the compressed air from the reservoir H is transmitted to the receiving-chamber N, and thence through openings fm, to the wings f without at anytime coming in contact with the shafts and gears. I also house the intermeshing spur-wheels I) and c in a water-tight compartment P, and surround the shaft c with a tube p, leading from the stern a2 to the compartment P, so that any Water which may possibly escape around the shaft c at the point where it passes through the stern may be conducted by means of the surrounding tube to the compartment P, from whence it IOO maybe pumped fromA time to time by any or dinary pump.

In connection with the reservoir 1I there is a whistle Q, which may be operated at pleasure to give the necessary warning. Over the Wheel F there is a shield R to prevent any water which may come aboard from interfering with the action of the wheel F. The rudder S may be driven either by a tiller of ordinary construction or by a pair ot' ropes nnder the control of the occupant.

It is intended that the shaft of the screwpropeller Cshall be mounted in ball-bearings similar, for example, to those employed in mounting the wheels of bicycles in order to reduce as far as possible the friction and prevent undue wear of the seat.

That I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination, with a boat provided with a propeller and a wind-wheel having its shaft geared with the propeller-shaft, of an air-pump and a connection between the airpump and wind-wheel for directing a blast of air from the pump to the wings of the wheel, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with a boat provided with a propeller and a Wind-wheel having its shaft geared with the propeller-shaft, of a compressed-air reservoir, an air-pump for forcing the air into the reservoir, and a connection between the reservoir and the windwheel as a motive power,substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with a boat provided with a propeller and a wind-wheel having its shaft geared with the propeller-shaft, of a compressed-air reservoir, an airpump for forcing the air into the reservoir, acompressedair receiver in proximity to the wind-wheel,

openings from the receiver to direct blasts of air to the wings upon the wheel, and a connection between the receiver and the reservoir, substantially as Set forth.

4. The combination, with a boat provided with a propeller and a Wind-Wheel having its shaft geared with the propel1er-shaft-, of a compressed-air reservoir, an air-pump for supplying air to the reservoir, an air-receiving chamber in proximity to the wind-wheel, an air-tight tube surrounding the wind-wheel shaft, a tube in communication with the bottom of the air-receiver, and a connection between said tube and the compressed-air reservoir, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, with a boat provided with a propeller and a wind-wheel having its shaft geared with the propeller-shaft, of a compartment inelosing the gear connecting the two shafts, a tube surrounding the propeller-shaft and leading from the stern of the boat and communicating with the said compartment, a compressed-air reservoir, anairpump for supplying air to the reservoir, and a communication between the reservoir and the wind-wheel, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination, with a boat provided with a propeller, a wind-wheel having its shaft geared with the propeller-shaft, and means for conducting a blast of air against the wind-wheel, of an air-pump, a lever for operating the air pump, and retraetingsprings connecting the operating-lever with stationary supports for throwing the leverin the direction to force the air,substantially as set forth.

ED\VARD G. SMITH.

Titnesses FREDK. HAYNES, C. E. LUNDGREN. 

